New Hampshire Primary: Here’s What You Need To Know

The 2016 elections officially began today with the New Hampshire primary. New Hampshire is the second voting contest after the Iowa caucus, but the first actual election. The polls closed statewide at 7 p.m. est.

The first vote in the primary was cast in Dixville Notch, the New Hampshire hamlet which is the “first-in-the-nation primary.” John Kasich and Bernie Sanders won the early votes.

Voters in the tiny town of Dixville Notch, N.H., have cast their ballots: Kasich and Sanders are out on top.https://t.co/1jmIwzJKHa

Hillary Clinton won New Hampshire in 2008, however she’s not expected to win this time around. Polls show Bernie Sanders leading Clinton by double digits.

Underdog candidates such as Carly Fiorina and Jeb Bush are hoping for high numbers in the primary to give their campaigns much needed momentum. If these candidates with low poll numbers fail to deliver higher numbers, it could be fatal for their campaign. Candidates, Mike Huckabee and Martin O’Malley, dropped out of the race following low voting numbers at the recent Iowa caucuses.

Candidates have been appealing to voters in New Hampshire over the last week, making their final rounds before the first official votes. “Tomorrow is going to be the beginning,” Mr. Trump told a crowd in New Hampshire yesterday. “I hear we have a lead. It doesn’t matter to me. It doesn’t matter to me. Who the hell knows what the lead is?” Trump is favored to win on the GOP side, and Bernie Sanders is favored to win for the Dems.

Hillary Clinton spoke to voters at a restaurant on Monday, making a case for herself “As for all of those who are still deciding, still shopping, I hope I can close the deal between now and the time polls close,” she said.

Candidates have begun taking sharper digs at their opponents as the primaries approach. Jeb Bush took to Twitter to tear down Trump writing, “You aren’t just a loser, you are a liar and a whiner.” This tweet comes just days after Ted Cruz started the trending hashtag #Trumpertantrum which gained wide attention on Twitter last week.

.@realDonaldTrump, you aren’t just a loser, you are a liar and a whiner. John McCain is a hero. Over and out.

Trump told CNN he think Jeb’s floundering campaign is “sad.” “He’s an embarrassment to his family,” Trump said. “He has to bring his mother out and walk his mother around at 90 years old. I think it’s a very sad situation that’s taking place.”

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